God is making a straight path for the whole Word to reach Bibleless people, leading into a broad place of growth, local leadership, and the light of His love.

For over ten years, Whole Word Institute has prepared translators and teachers in biblical Hebrew to bring the Old Testament directly into languages that have never had it before. Today, these leaders are training the next generation of translators, multiplying access and strengthening translation efforts across nations.

We help bring the full story of God’s deep love, rooted in the Old Testament and shown in every verse of His Word, to every person in their own language. That has always been the vision before us: the whole Word for the whole world.

What began as a vision has become part of a growing movement to bring the full Bible to every language, now bearing fruit as God’s whole Word reaches new languages, shapes hearts, and lays a foundation that will serve local churches for generations to come.

Discover how God is opening the way, bringing the whole Bible to new languages:

I’ve been reflecting on the Passover story this week as we look toward Resurrection Day.

“The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him.” —Exodus 15:2

This song comes after God makes a way where there was none, a worshipful response to deliverance that could only come from Him. From Passover to the Resurrection, Scripture tells the story of God bringing His people out of bondage and into new life.

“I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” —John 10:10

Yet so many still do not know God as their Creator, or Jesus as the Good Shepherd and Messiah. Without access to the whole Word of God in their own language, key parts of His story remain unknown. But when Scripture is translated from the original biblical Hebrew, there is greater depth and clarity, giving confidence in the faithfulness of the translation and strengthening how God’s Word is understood—and it changes everything.

Leaders who first studied biblical Hebrew in Jerusalem are now training others through the Hebrew Extension Learning Program (HELP), creating a cycle of teaching, learning, and multiplication that strengthens both the accuracy and the reach of Bible translation work. As they train others, translation is growing, rooted locally, and more people are hearing the whole Word of God for the first time. Local programs are happening now and in the coming months in Indonesia, Benin, Mozambique and South Africa.

We are continuing in faith to plan for the School of Biblical Hebrew in Jerusalem this fall. We trust there will be enough peace and stability for the program to run, as new leaders will be equipped to return and strengthen translation efforts in their own languages.

Through this work, we see God opening the way, making a path for His Word to be known more fully, and for lives to be changed through it.

I hope you have a meaningful time with family and loved ones this week, celebrating the hope and deliverance we have in the risen Word.

“He is not here; He has risen, just as He said.” —Matthew 28:6

Hallelujah!

P.S. I’m sharing “Remembering” from the Master Storyteller series, in case you haven’t seen it. This short video reflects on the ways God gave to remember His faithfulness and the paths He opens that bring freedom and abundant life. It’s a reflection to celebrate and worship God for what He has done, not only in biblical times, but in our own histories.

You and I know God’s Word as a love letter—spoken, breathed, and shared from generation to generation. In Exodus God introduces himself as “The Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love to the thousandth generation.” Through the prophet Jeremiah He reminds His people, “I have loved you with an everlasting love.”

I heard an Indonesian Bible translator describe elderly believers who faithfully came to church each week, yet still could not fully understand God’s Word because it wasn’t heard in their own language. Through tears she said, “They don’t understand enough to know Jesus. They don’t know that God loves them.”

When people encounter the whole Word of God in their own language, something changes. Marjorie in Zambia, hearing Genesis for the first time, said, “Now I know I have dignity, because I am made in God’s image.” As Prosper, a Wycliffe translation leader and our partner, says, “The whole Word of God—not a portion of it, but the whole story—is for them.”

This short video shows what that looks like today through our Hebrew Extension Learning Program (HELP). Local leaders trained through Whole Word are now leading others, removing barriers and helping bring the whole Word of God to languages that have never had the full Bible. As these leaders train others, new Bible translations are multiplied, rooted locally, and God’s love is shared for generations.

Thank you for walking with us and believing that every person deserves access to God’s whole Word. It is a joy to share this glimpse of how God’s story of love is bearing lasting fruit in communities and churches around the world.

One translator changes lives. One translation changes generations.

Poleg was familiar with the New Testament but still struggled with understanding the depth of “God with us.” Then when he read Genesis for the first time in his own language, he said: 

“Now I see that God never abandoned humanity. Even when people disobeyed him, he still loved them and had already planned a way of salvation (through Jesus).” 

When the full revelation of God’s Word takes root in our hearts, it transforms our minds and imaginations. The full wonder of God and his love for us is revealed. We know that we are made in the image of God, valued by God so much that he gave us his Word who became flesh and dwelt among us. Imagine this truth taking root in every human heart. This is why local churches and pastors long for their people to know both the Old and New Testaments—to tell God’s whole story of redemption, his coming, and his presence with us.

Biblical Hebrew training enables churches to translate directly from the original Hebrew into their own languages, creating full Bible translations and resources that strengthen discipleship and growth amid challenging faiths and worldviews. Local training programs are happening now in Benin, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Mozambique, and South Africa.

A translation leader in West Africa shared with me: “Many people in my community live in complete ignorance and die without knowing about Jesus. That’s why this translation work is urgent, and the time is now.” 

This Advent season, I invite you to help prepare hearts through the knowledge of God’s Word, so more people may know and receive Immanuel, God with us. Your gift of any size supports translators in Biblical Hebrew training for new Bible translations. 

One translator changes lives. One translation changes generations.

Thank you to each of you who are already giving. Your generosity sustains translators who are advancing translation projects for their people. 

The Word is alive, and He is with us! 

“Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is;
and walk in it and, find rest for your souls.” — Jeremiah 6:16 

“Everyone wonders what road their dreams will take,” Ariel shared with us as we gathered for staff prayer. “Even when we’re in the middle of what we feel is God’s calling, things don’t always go the way we expect. But He is guiding our path. God has a plan for us—and it’s not about us, but about Him, and about preparing the way for His Word.” 

Ariel’s words remind me of the vision before us: translating the whole Bible for every person—the whole Word for the whole world. They also challenge me to reflect: How many times have we seen the Lord’s miraculous provision? How many times has He opened a path where, humanly speaking, there was no way? Remembering His faithfulness strengthens our confidence that He is leading the way ahead. If we step in obedience, He will accomplish His purposes. “My word shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose” (Isaiah 55:11). 

God prepares the path and His Word guides the way. Through every generation, faithful men and women have opened the way for others to walk in His truth—and today, translators and teachers are bringing the whole Bible to new languages, helping others discover the “ancient paths” of God’s Word.

With that confidence, I invite you to special prayer this month for nine Hebrew teachers and mentors who will teach translators and church leaders Biblical Hebrew for Old Testament translation, equipping them to multiply God’s Word in their own languages.

SPECIAL PRAYER THIS MONTH FOR: 

• Eyerusalem (Ethiopia), Yehezkel and Rachel (Indonesia), and Moriya (Brazil) are in Jerusalem for continued specialized training. They will return to strengthen biblical language training for Bible translation in East Africa, Indonesia, and South America. In October and November, they will also do fieldwork and assistant teaching through the Hebrew Extension Learning Program (HELP) in partnership with local leaders in Indonesia (Kartidaya) and Ethiopia (Harvest Mission). 
• Peleg, Aron, and Miriam (Mozambique) will be working with translation for their own languages. Together with Wycliffe South Africa, they are helping build Bible translation capacity in Lusophone Africa (Angola, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, São Tomé, and Equatorial Guinea). While Old Testament projects have begun in Angola and Mozambique, most Mozambican languages remain without Scripture. 
• Alona (Ukraine/Israel) and Adam (USA) are preparing as instructors for Deaf Bible translation. Alona is serving in Jerusalem, helping a Deaf team begin an Israeli Sign Language Bible translation. This week Adam is working with a First Nations project in partnership with SIL and Wycliffe USA, translating Old Testament books into Native languages. 

Let’s walk alongside them in prayer as they journey in obedience to the Lord and prepare the way for His whole Word.

With you in His service, 

David 

David Swarr PhD
President & CEO

I’m writing to share some encouraging news and testimonies from a few of my heroes—men and women who’ve dedicated themselves to the challenge of living and learning Biblical Hebrew so they can help bring the whole Bible to their people in their own languages.

What’s remarkable isn’t just how quickly they learned Biblical Hebrew, but the depth of their faith and perseverance. This year, while studying Scripture in the land of the Bible, they were in a safe location—but still surrounded by war and uncertainty. Yet they remained unwavering in their commitment to bring God’s whole Word to those still waiting.

At the recent School of Biblical Hebrew graduation in Jerusalem, several graduates gave speeches (in Hebrew), sharing their journeys and their deep love for God’s Word. Hosea from Nigeria said: “I didn’t do this for me, but for the Lord—and for the many people who need to hear the Word of the Lord in their languages.”

Rachel and Yehezkel from Indonesia also shared with us, “This program not only gave us deeper understanding of the Scriptures—it equipped us to translate faithfully and clearly. Becoming Bible translation consultants and instructors is a calling, but also a great hope for churches and agencies longing for whole Bible translation.”

Miriam from Mozambique, who will mentor others in her community, says: “I saw the great need for Bibles in our local language. Now I’m happy to know I’ll be able to translate, interpret and teach God’s Word in my own language, on solid foundations.” 

These people are multipliers of the Word for their communities, places where Scripture is still unknown and the harvest is great. On average, each one will help bring 3 to 8 new Bible translations to life—impacting not just communities, but generations.

As this movement to translate the whole Bible grows, so does greater call to action. That’s why our Hebrew Extension Learning Program (HELP) continues in four other nations—training local translation teams where they serve, removing dependence on a third language for translation, and laying a deep foundation for lasting discipleship and faith. 

Help Bring the Whole Word to the Whole World

Thank you for standing with us in prayer and sacrificial support for these leaders. Please continue to lift them up as they step into the work ahead. And if you’re able, give to support and multiply their efforts as they faithfully bring God’s whole Word to those still waiting. 

Thanks to the continued generosity of our partner, every gift you give this year will be doubled. 

“Last month, I had the privilege of teaching 17 Bible translators in Dassa-Zoumé, Benin. The students came from all over the country, one student came all the way from Togo to Benin, riding the bus for 12 hours in order to participate. Some of them have been translators for years, some just started. Some left fields, goats, chickens and more behind to come to this class, while others came from big cities, but they all came with the same goal (to learn to translate the Old Testament directly from Biblical Hebrew into their languages). I was impressed with the eagerness with which these students learned. Coming from oral traditions, their ability to learn new words is outstanding and I could see their vocabulary grow every day. This was only my second time in Africa, and it still feels like ‘the other side of the world’ to me. But coming to such a place and suddenly finding yourself in a room full of people speaking (Biblical) Hebrew, feels nothing short of a miracle.

During the two weeks of learning spoken Biblical Hebrew through the story of Ruth, we laughed in Hebrew, prayed in Hebrew, talked about our families, agriculture, biblical feasts and more, all in Hebrew. Even the real-life challenge of finding a snake in the classroom, while writing the final exam, could not break the flow of Hebrew: The students were shouting ‘snake’ and ‘we need a big stick’, all in Hebrew. It was a delight to see this group grow, their kindness and care for each other and their passion for Hebrew.

At the end of the class, we told the students that the one who gets the highest grade in the final exam will receive a Hebrew Bible. Nes, whose name means ‘miracle’ in Hebrew, was the one receiving this special gift. Afterwards, he shared with me how for a long time already he had been looking for ways to buy a Bible in Hebrew – to no avail. It was a true miracle for him, as he said that ‘God has given me this book.'”

— From Raffaela, sharing her experience teaching translators Biblical Hebrew in Benin

Whole Word Institute’s Jerusalem programs offer a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the language and land of the Bible—preparing you to serve in local Scripture translation efforts that bring lasting impact to churches and communities around the world. 

A one-of-a-kind immersive program that equips translators to work directly from Biblical Hebrew for Old Testament translation on the field. Learn Hebrew deeply—and live it daily—in the land of the Bible. SBH is a stand-alone program as well as a prerequisite to the master’s programs.

A fully accredited program combining Biblical Hebrew, translation consulting skills, and a supervised field internship. Graduates are prepared to serve as Translation Consultants supporting Bible translation projects and teams around the world. 

Specializations can be added in Hebrew Teaching, Oral Bible Translation, and Deaf Bible Translation. Scholarships are available for qualified applicants.  

A fully accredited intensive program focused on biblical language training for translators and future instructors. Includes the School of Biblical Hebrew plus additional advanced coursework. 

Applicants who qualify for a specialty in Hebrew Pedagogy & Instruction may receive scholarships.

Accreditation

SBH and MA programs are accredited through our partners Corban University (through Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities) and University of the Holy Land (through Asia Theological Association).

Upcoming Deadline: 

Apply by June 30 to join our next School of Biblical Hebrew in Jerusalem. Scholarships are available for qualifying students. 

Accommodation opens Nov. 14th. The departure date will depend on the chosen program and specializations. Please get in touch for further information: [email protected]

About Whole Word Institute

We are part of a global movement of churches, translators, and Bible agencies committed to making God’s whole Word accessible to every person. A major barrier remains: few translators are trained in the Bible’s original languages. 

Whole Word Institute equips local leaders around the world—both hearing and Deaf—with biblical language training so they can translate Scripture faithfully into their own languages. The result: Bible translations and biblical resources that are accurate, enduring, and rooted in their cultures and the life of the church.